Cities can be wonderful places to grow up, but they can also pose serious challenges for the health and wellbeing of babies, toddlers and the people who care for them – from a lack of nature and safe spaces to play, to air pollution and traffic congestion, to social isolation.

The presence of children and families is often a measure of a city’s vibrancy and dynamism. Cities that plan and design with the needs and wellbeing of young children as a priority, create healthy, inclusive and accessible urban environments for everyone. This approach can also cities help achieve wider social and environmental goals.

This event will ask you the question: If you could experience the city from 95cm (the height of a healthy three-year old child) – What would you change? And share insights in inspiration on how city decision-makers, architects, urbanists, engineers and civil society can create spaces where children can grow, learn, imagine, play and thrive. The event will be attended by city officials participating in the Urban95 Academy programme.

Speakers

Cecilia Vaca Jones (@CecyVacaJones) is the Executive Director at the Bernard van Leer Foundation (@BvLFoundation). She has over 20 years of experience managing social development policies and programmes.

Sean Maguire is Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Clean Air Fund (@cleanairfund). He’s responsible for resource mobilisation, building alliances to achieve clean air and effectively communicating the challenges of tackling air pollution. He has worked across the development and humanitarian sector on policy, advocacy, partnerships and campaigns, with a focus on sustainability and gender equality. He began his career in journalism, covering politics, economics, climate and international affairs.

Selva Gürdoğan is an Architect and Partner at Superpool (@superpoolorg), an international architecture practice based in Istanbul, Turkey.

Chair 

Ricky Burdett (@burdettr) is Professor of Urban Studies and Director of LSE Cities at the London School of Economics and Political Science 

Hosted by The Urban 95 Academy, LSE Cities and the Bernard van Leer Foundation

Urban95 Academy
The Urban95 Academy is a fully funded leadership programme, delivered online over six weeks, to help city leaders design better cities for young children and their caregivers.

LSE Cities 
LSE Cities is an international centre that investigates the complexities of the contemporary city. It carries out research, graduate and executive education, outreach and advisory activities in London and abroad. 

The Bernard van Leer Foundation
The Bernard van Leer Foundation is an independent Dutch organisation working worldwide to ensure that all babies and toddlers have a good start in life. We inspire and inform large-scale action that improves the health and wellbeing of young children – especially the most vulnerable – and the people who care for them.